DeSoto as an US Marine in 1941.
Dennis DeSoto (born in 1921) was an American dancer and US Marine during World War II.
Biography[]
Dennis DeSoto was born in 1921 in Los Angeles. In 1937, he met Wally Stephens who he made his best friend. In 1939, Wally met Betty Douglas. Wally wanting to impress Betty, stole Betty's father car with Dennis' help but they ended crashing into the sea and being arrested by the police.
On Saturday, December 13, 1941, a 10th Armored Division M3 Lee tank crew, consisting of Sergeant Frank Tree, Corporal Chuck Sitarski, and Privates John Foley, Mickey Reese, and Walter Henshaw, were having breakfast at a cafe where Wally and Dennis both worked. Wally was planning to enter a dance contest at a club that evening with Betty. Sitarski instantly disliked Wally, particularly his civilian attire, and tripped him, causing a fight.
That evening, Dennis purchased a costume of an US Marine for entering the dance at the USO. Outside the USO club, Sitarski literally kicked aside Wally and dragged Betty into the dance. Wally eventually sneaked in by knocking out a member of the Shore Patrol and stealing his uniform. He snatched Betty from Sitarski, and they ended up winning the dance contest whilst evading Sitarski, whom Maxine was relentlessly pursuing. As the contest ended, Sitarski finally punched Wally, setting off a brawl between soldiers, sailors and zoot suiters. The free-for-all spilled into the street and became a riot.
Sgt. Tree arrived with his crew and broke up the melee, just as L.A. went to Red Alert with unknown aircraft sighted over the city. Moments later, Sitarski was dragging away Betty, when Wally arrived, rescued her and knocked him out cold. Wild Bill Kelso, who has crash landed his plane on the street, informed Wally and the rest of the sub near the amusement park. Sergeant Tree, knocked silly during the melee, instructed Wally to go after the submarine. Wearing an Army uniform, Wally commandeered Tree's tank and headed toward the amusement park. The tank fired at the sub and then sank when the pier collapsed and Wally, Dennis, Tree and the crew jumped into the ocean. Kelso who had stolen a motorcycle which he drove off the pier. He swam to the submarine, where he was captured by the Japanese.
On Sunday morning, December 14, 1941, General Joseph Stilwell and soldiers arrived at the remains of the Douglas home. Ward Douglas delivered an inspirational speech to everyone present, vowing that their Christmas will not be ruined by the enemy; to symbolize his point, he nailed a Christmas wreath to his front door, jarring the unstable house so that it collapsed down the hillside.